Phlox plant named ‘Versorange’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Versorange’, characterized by its broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit; freely flowering habit; large inflorescences with light red-colored flowers; long flowering period; good garden performance; and relative tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘VERSORANGE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Versorange’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and freely-flowering Phlox plants with attractive flower colors.

The new Phlox plant originated from an open-pollination in Haarlem, The Netherlands, of an unnamed selection of Phlox paniculata as the female, or seed, parent, not patented with an unknown selection of Phlox paniculata as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands during the summer of 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by vegetative stem cuttings in a controlled environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands since August, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Versorange’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Versorange’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Large inflorescences with light red-colored flowers.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Good garden performance.     -   6. Relative tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are shorter and more compact than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Phlox are more intense light red         in color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox are healthier, stronger and more         tolerant to Powdery Mildew than plants of the female parent         selection.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of Phlox paniculata ‘Orange Perfection’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Orange Perfection’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are shorter and more compact than         plants of ‘Orange Perfection’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox grow faster than plants of ‘Orange         Perfection’.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox are healthier, stronger and more         tolerant to Powdery Mildew than plants of ‘Orange Perfection’.     -   4. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Orange Perfection’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Orange Perfection’ have orange         pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Versorange’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Versorange’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and early autumn in 17-cm containers and ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Haarlem, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Phlox production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 18° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Versorange’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Phlox             paniculata, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Phlox             paniculata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About six weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly             upright and relatively compact plant habit; overall shape,             broad inverted triangle; moderately vigorous and moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 30.2             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 38.7             cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 41.8 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 27.8 cm. Diameter: About             3.5 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Upright to about 30° from vertical. Texture:             Moderately to densely pubescent. Luster: Slightly glossy.             Color, developing: Close to 143B to 143C. Color, developed:             Close to 144A; at the internodes, close to N186C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 7.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire; very finely serrate, inconspicious; very             slightly revolute.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent; slightly rugose.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Sparsely to moderately pubescent;             slightly rugose.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and             147A; venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and             salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles;             flowers face upright to outwardly; panicles roughly             pyramidal in shape; freely flowering habit with about 100             flowers developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; sweet, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             months after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             continuously from late spring throughout the summer in The             Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Oblanceolate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:             Matte. Color: Close to 58B; immature tube, close to 148D             with longitudinal stripes, close to N77B; immature calyx,             close to 144B tinged with close to N186C, most prominently             towards the apex.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Tube diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; lower 60% of petal length fused into a narrow tube;             free parts slightly imbricate. Length: About 3.8 cm; lower             2.3 cm fused. Lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Free part,             spatulate. Apex: Obtuse and shallowly retuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety.             Texture, throat: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, tube: Moderately             pubescent. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 43A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 52B to 52C. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 46C to 46D; color becoming closer to 58B             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 51A             and 52B; color becoming closer to 63B and 64C with             development. Throat: Close to between N57A and 61A. Tube:             Close to 72B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, lower 30% of sepal length fused into a narrow tube;             calyx, campanulate. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Moderately pubescent. Luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 144A; distally, close to N186C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 144B; tinged with close to             N186C, most prominently towards the apex. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 144A; distally, close to N186C.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 144A; tinged with             close to N186C, most prominently towards the apex.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Moderately to             densely pubescent. Luster: Slightly glossy. Color: Close to             144C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Angle:             About 60° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Luster: Matte. Color:             Close to 197A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to             157A. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong;             basifixed. Anther color: Close to 158B. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.4 cm. Stigma shape:             Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Style             length: About 1.2 cm. Style color: Close to N77D. Ovary             color: Close to 143A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Phlox to date. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 6. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been     observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe     cichoracearum); plants of the new Phlox have not been observed to be     resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Phlox plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Versorange’ as illustrated and described. 